Roller rail for industrial heat treating purposes



Sept. 12, 1939. H. H. HARRIS 2,172,380

ROLLER RAIL FOR INDUSTRIAL HEAT TREATING PURPOSES Filed Feb. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l \NVENTOR H ilr'f H Harris ATTORNEYS H. H. HARRIS Sept. 12, 1939.

ROLLER RAIL FOR INDUSTRIAL HEAT TREATING PURPOSES Filed Feb. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Henry H. Harr'zs I BY Patented Sept. 12 1939 UNITED STATES OFFICE ROLLER RAIL FOR INDUSTRIAL HEAT TREATING PURPOSES 7 Claims.

My invention relates generally to industrial heat treating furnaces, such as carbonizing furnaces and the like, and relates specifically to the means employed on which to move articles therethrough.

Articles to be heat treated are usually loaded onto flat bottomed supports, such as trays, boxes or the like. These supports are disposed on top of skid rails or tracks, or on various types of roller rails, and then are pushed through the furnace. The fiat skid rails have been found to be unsatisfactory both because of the destructive effects of the friction generated by the flatbottomed supports, and also because of the injurious effects of the heat conditions within the furnace which causes warping, buckling and bending of the rails.

Ordinarily, roller rails are not subject to the destructive effects of friction to the same extent as are flat skid rails, but they are subject to the injurious effects of furnace heat and work support and travel thereover, and the roller rails have usually been so formed that the entire roller rail is damaged if any part thereof becomes worn, warped or expanded. The conventional roller rails have been formed as one-piece heavy castings, to better withstand furnace operating conditions, and if any one part thereof, as for instance a roller bearing becomes cracked, bent or worn, the entire rail must be replaced. This is an expensive procedure, and among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a roller rail comprised of a number of independent roller bearing units, unconnected in any way with each other directly, except formeans to retain them in line and at a predetermined distance one from the other.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a roller rail having means to keep the roller supporting components secured in a predetermined and aligned position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a roller rail composed of a number of independent roller bearing units and a shell or hood to enclose same, having interlocking connections between the units and the shell or hood, whereby the units are secured in line at a predetermined spacing apart.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a hood for enclosing a roller rail having means on the inside thereof for retaining the roller supporting components in a predetermined aligned and spaced apart position.

The present invention relates specifically to the means employed for keeping the independent roller bearing units in line; and in addition to the objects above stated other and related objects of my invention will in part be pointed out specifically and in part be obvious from the following description of an illustrative embodiment.

In the drawings annexed hereto and made a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly insection, of M one form of roller rail constructed according to and embodying my invention, the section being taken along the broken line ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, also partly in section, along the broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the roll-er bearing portion of the roller rail of Figures 1-4 inelusive.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of a modified form of roller rail also constructed according to and embodying my invention, the section being taken along the broken line 66 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, also partly in section, along the broken line l-'l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the roller bearing component of the roller rail of Figures 6 to 8 inclusive.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view' illustrating the manner in which the roller rail as a unit is assembled; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse view along the line ll-H of Fig. 10 illustrating one of the assembly steps.

Reference numeral [0 indicates generally the 40 roller rail of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, which comprises a plurality of rollers 12, roller-supporting members l4, and an enclosing shell or hood IS. The shell or hood I6 is provided with slot-like openings l8' in the roof of the hood extending longitudinally thereof, through which openings IS the upper portions of rollers I2 project, as indicated at 20', so that work supports can be moved along the rail upon the rollers.

Each of these rail components, roller supporting members I4, shell I6, and rollers I2, is preferably formed as a one-piece casting of high heat and corrosion resisting alloy material, of

nickel, chromium, iron composition, and. addi 5'5 tionally, rollers I 2 have tapered pintles 22 formed as an integral part thereof.

Each roller-supporting member I4 comprises a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending platform members 24, the sides 25 of which are inclined upwardly, and are secured in the spaced apart position at their lower ends by cross bars 26. The space between the horizontal platforms defines a channel or openslot 28 in which the rollers l2 may revolve freely, and the limits of this slot or channel 28 are defined by vertical walls 30, 30 which extend downwardly from the inner edges of the horizontalextending platforms 24, 24. The upper central portion of each of the platforms 24 is depressed, as indicated at 29, to form a pair of transversely aligned, open, tapered roller-bearing notches 3|, 3|, which provide 'extended bearings for the correspondingly tapered pintles 22 of rollers I2 adapted to be received therewithin. Notches 3I, 3I are preferably formed of depth substantially equal to the diameter of the pintles 22 to prevent the rollers from jumping out therefrom during loadtravel through the furnace. The pintles 22 are slightly shorter than the extended bearing notches 3|, and when'rollers I2 are in position within the roller supporting members I4, no parts of the pintles project therefrom.

A pair of walls 32 are formed on and as an integral part of eachroller support I4, which walls 32 extend outwardly from channel walls 38 beyond the platform 24 on each' side of the support-I4, the .walls 32 being merged with the underside of notches 3|, as indicated at 33.

Hood or shell I6 is of generally inverted-U formation, comprising straight side walls 40, 40 and r a curved roof 42.; The outer transverse'dimen- 'sions of roller supports I4 are slightly .less than the inner transverse dimensions of shell or hood I6, except that wall 32' extends outwardly beyond the sides of support I4, and when the shell or hood is placed over the roller supporting members, there is little or no clearance therebetween, as indicated at 44.. Hood or shell I6 is provided with a number of pairs of uniformly spaced apart, transversely aligned, vertical openings 50, 50, in the side walls'40, 40, which openings extend upwardly from the bottom of the said walls and are a little greater in height than walls 32. Thus, when the roller supporting members I4 are arranged in their predetermined aligned and spaced-apart position and the hood is fitted thereover, an interlocking connection between the hood and supports is secured because of the projecting portions of walls 32 being received within openings 50. This connection may be made more secure as by weldings, as at 5|. 7 v I Referring now to Figs. 6-9 inclusive, reference numeral indicates the rail generally, which comprises roller supporting members 62,.rollers 64 supported thereby, which rollers have tapered pintles 66 formed integral therewith, and shell or hood 68, all of which are preferably formed as one-piece castings of high heat and corrosion resisting alloy metal.

' Roller supports 62 each comprisea pair of relatively thick upstanding wall members 10, 10 connected by outwardly'curved portions I2, at the bottom thereof. Walls 10, ID are spaced apart to define an open slot or channel II within which the rollers are free to rotate, which walls 10, III are provided on the upper edges thereof with open transversely aligned tapered bearing notches 14 adapted to receive the tapered pintles as of rulers 6'4. A pair of feet 16, 1a are provided extending outwardly from walls 10, I8 on opposite sides of the support 62, which feet I6 have an upturned portion 18 at their outer end defining a channel 80 between wall I0 and upturned portion 18.. Channel 80 is preferably so formed as to be wider than the thickness of th hood walls.

Hood 68 is of generally inverted-U shape in cross section and comprises straight side walls 82, 82 and curved connecting roof 84. Roof 84 is provided with a plurality of slot-like openings 86 in the center, extending longitudinally thereof, and when the hood is in the position as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the upper portion of rollers 64 project through said openings 86, as indicated at 81, so that work supports can be traveled along wardly' of said hood wallsas indicated at 90. A.

plurality of openings 92' are provided at the bottom of walls 82, between the pairsof ribs 88, 88, which openings are of such size as to receive feet I6 therewithin, The components of thefo-rms' of roller .rail here described are castings of relatiyely'small size, and in order to reduce their unit cost, they are made in large batches, and there is a slight variation in size between the units which is nec essarily attendant 'upon the casting process of manufacture. For this reason, and. in orderto insure smooth and easy work travel over the roller rails of my invention, it .is' essential. that the various components be assembled with care so that the rollers all projectan equal distance upwardly from the hood. 1

In Figures 10 and 11,I have illustrated-the method of assembling the various components in relation to the form of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, so that the rollers all extend upwardly of the shell a uniform distance and thus insure smoother and.

easier work travel thereover. The method of assembly of the form of rail illustrated in Figs. 1to4is the same. r v

The hoods are disposed on a longitudinally grooved table 'IIII), with the roof down and with the slot-like openings 86 in the roof overlying and coinciding with the longitudinal'groove I02.

The rollers 64 are then placed inside the hood Visthen inverted and is ready for use. This method of assembly assures the securing of the rollers at a uniform height above the roof 84 of hood 68. In the formlof Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I obtain the desired result of securing the roller supporting members I4 in their predetermined aligned and spaced apart position by means of the interconnection'between walls 32 andjhood wall slots 50." In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, I'secure this result by means of thechannel formed by ribs 88 which key the bearing members 62 in position, and also by means of the fit between legs I6 into hood wall openings 92. In both forms, I have illustrated the means to secure the roller supporting com:

ponents of my rail in their predetermined aligned and spaced apart position, and in both forms I have illustrated the interlocking connections between the hood and roller supporting members to secure the latter in an aligned and spaced apart position.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roller rail comprising a plurality of rollers, individual bearing members for each roller, an overlying hood through which the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, and means to secure said bearing members within the hood at a predetermined spacing comprising openings in the hood walls into which portions integral with and extending from the bearing members are received.

2. A roller rail comprising a plurality of rollers, individual bearing members for each roller, an overlying hood through which the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, said hood having a plurality of pairs of aligned openings in the side walls thereof extending upwardly from the bottoms thereof, and said bearing members having projections therefrom on opposite sides thereof, which projections fit within the openings to connect said bearing members to said hood.

3. A roller rail comprising a plurality of aligned and spaced apart roller bearing members, a roller for each member, and an overlying hood'through which the upper portions of the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members and means within and an integral part of said hood walls to secure said bearing members therewithin in said aligned and spaced apart position.

4. A roller rail comprising a plurality of aligned and spaced apart roller bearing members, a roller for each member and an overlying hood through which the portions of the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, and means on and a part of said hood to secure said bearing members within said hood, said means comprising channels within the hood walls adapted to receive the bearing members therewithin.

5. A roller rail comprising a plurality of aligned and spaced-apart roller bearing members, a roller for each member, and an overlying hood through which portions of the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, said bearing members having feet projecting outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof defining a channel, said hood walls fitting within said channels and interlocking. with said feet to connect said bearing members to said hood.

6. A roller rail comprising a plurality of aligned and spaced-apart roller supporting members, a roller for each member, and an overlying hood through which portions of the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, said hood having a plurality of pairs of transversely aligned internal ribs, said bearing members being disposed within said hood and received within said pairs of ribs to secure same in the aligned and spaced-apart relation.

'7. A roller rail comprising a plurality of rollers, individual bearing members for each roller, and an overlying hood through which the rollers project upwardly from the bearing members, said bearing members having feet projecting therefrom on opposite sides thereof, the ends of which are bent up to define a channel on each side of the bearing member, said hood having a plurality of openings therein, said hood being received within the channels with the projections being received within the openings to connect said bearing members to said hood.

HENRY H. HARRIS. 

